ABSTRACT
Backgrounds and Objectives: Doppler waveform analysis of the umbilical artery is a powerful tool to evaluate probable pregnancy risks. So far, huge amounts of data on fetuses with three-vessel umbilical cords have been collected. Our objective was to evaluate the value of umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in fetuses with single umbilical arteries. In this respect, two evaluation indices of the Pulsatility Index and the Systolic/Diastolic Ratio were considered
Materials and Methods: Fetuses between 16 and 40 week gestational age were studied. A set of information was obtained from 50 cases with single umbilical arteries. Data were analyzed using chi-square [chi[2]] test. P-values less than 0.05 was considered significant
Results: The Systolic/Diastolic Ratio in the umbilical artery was abnormal in 29 fetuses [58%] and normal in 21 fetuses [42%]. Pulsatility Index in the umbilical artery was abnormal in 28 fetuses [56%] and normal in 22 fetuses [44%]. Fetuses with abnormal Doppler waveform analysis in their umbilical arteries were significantly more likely to be growth restricted [38%] and to more have complex malformations [18%] than those with normal Doppler waveform analysis
Conclusion: Fetuses with single umbilical arteries and abnormal umbilical Doppler velocimetry had a significantly increased risk of adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes compared with those with single umbilical arteries but normal Doppler studies. When the fetus with isolated umbilical artery is the only observed fetus anomaly and the results of Doppler velocimetry are normal, it might be suggested that the risk of disorder in fetus is so low
ABSTRACT
Enterococci have been recognized as clinically important pathogens. Among more than one dozen species of Enterococcus species, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are major pathogens. Vancomycin resistant Enterococci [VRE] strains have been spread worldwide among inpatients and outpatients. This study was designed to study phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of VRE isolates from inpatients and outpatients. Of 193 enterococci isolates, 178 strains were identified as E. faecalis and as 15 E.faecium . Out of 193 isolates strains of enterococci, 22 were detected as VRE. All of these strains were isolated from fecal [6 starins] or clinical samples [16] of hospitalized patients. The PCR revealed VanA genotype in 10 E. faecium and 2 E. faecalis strains, whereas VanB genotype was detected in 5 E.faecium and 5 E.feacalis strains. No VanC genotype was detected among VRE strains. Due to limited published studies in Iran for VRE strains, we are not able tot compare our results with other studies, but our findings showed that VRE strains were isolated from normal flora and clinical samples, on the other hand the VanA genotype is more than VanB among VRE strains